AUSTIN, Texas -- The family of a boy found hanging on a coat hook at NYOS Elementary speaks for the first time since his death. It happened in January. Seven-year-old Tevin Park-Flowers died two days after the incident. The family has now taken legal action against the school.
When parents Felicia Williams and Tony Park-Flowers talk about their son Tevin, it's as if he's still alive.
"Most of the people that know Tevin know him for his smile. He's in love with his cars. He's a Spiderman buff," Tevin's dad, Tony Park-Flowers said.
His toys are out, his trophies proudly on display, but his room sits empty. His parents still aren't sure why he's gone.
"I didn't have a chance to pick them up from school like I normally would. The last time I saw him was when I dropped him off," Tevin's mom, Felicia Williams said.
Tears roll down Felicia's face when she talks about what happened on January 30th. She remembers Tevin and his twin brother Tyler racing up the stairs to NYOS Magnolia McCullough Elementary School. She was called back to the school at two that afternoon to a chaotic scene.
"It's so hard to lose a child. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about him," Williams said.
A school administrator says Tevin took a bathroom break during an assembly in the school gym. The gym teacher found him unconscious hanging from a coat hook by his shirt. A teacher came in next and performed CPR. Tevin died two days later. A preliminary police investigation concluded that no foul play was involved. It was just an accident. Tevin's death certificate reflects those findings.
"I just have questions," Park-Flowers said.
Tevin's parents say they want more answers that can only come from the school
"I want to know when, why, how, who and could this have been prevented. Why wasn't someone watching him? Why wasn't he found quicker?" Williams said.
But, they say school officials won't meet with them to answer these questions -- and would only direct them to news releases on the school's website. With the start of the new school year, the couple couldn't wait for answers any longer.
"How am I going to explain this to Tyler when he's old enough to really understand?" Williams said.
Attorney Dan Ross represents the couple. After failed attempts to obtain the information with an open records request, they filed a petition to collect statements from school officials.
"I want to make it very clear that my clients are not filing a lawsuit at this time. They are simply trying to get information," Family attorney Dan Ross said.
"We will always remember Tevin. Tevin will always be a part of this school, this campus and its history," NYOS Governing Council Chair Susana Hildebrand said.
We spoke to the Chair of the NYOS Governing Council, Susana Hildebrand, on the future site of a playground dedicated to Tevin. Hildebrand says school officials have revealed what they legally can and cannot discuss anything more with Tevin's parents because they don't want to jeopardize the police investigation.
"We certainly empathize with the family's desire to know more, but the school has and must remain steadfast in it's commitment to cooperate with the Austin Police Department," Hildebrand said.
NYOS school officials have posted all the information they can in numerous press releases on their website.
"We understand the family is hurting and they have questions and we hope that they'll get the answers that help them have their closure," Hildebrand said.
Police also would not talk to us about the case. So for the family -- questions linger.
"I send my children to school hoping that they are in the best care. Since this incident has happened, it worries me to send Tyler and my daughter Mia to school. It's horrific to think it could happen again," Williams said.
A judge will decide if NYOS officials must reveal their findings to Tevin's parents on the 30th of this month.
